What Are Violin Hips? Understanding This Natural Body Type

Violin hips — also called hip dips, hip divots, or trochanteric depressions — are the inward curves on the sides of the body below the hip bones. The name comes from the violin-like silhouette they create: the hip bone forms the upper curve, followed by an indentation, followed by the curve of the upper thigh.

What Causes Violin Hips?

Violin hips are caused by your pelvic bone structure — specifically the shape and width of your ilium and the distance between your hip bone and the top of your femur. They are determined by genetics and are not related to your weight, fitness level, or health.

How Common Are Violin Hips?

Approximately 30% of women have visible violin hips. They occur in women of all body types, sizes, and fitness levels. Many women who are very fit and lean still have pronounced violin hips because the shape is determined by bones, not fat or muscle.

Violin Hips Are Normal

Violin hips are not a deformity, medical condition, or flaw. They are a completely normal anatomical variation — as normal as having attached or detached earlobes. The beauty industry and social media have created unrealistic expectations that hips must be perfectly rounded, but natural bodies come in many beautiful shapes.